Fuel Efficiency Programme

The fuel test

A Vauxhall Astra 1.6L petrol, 1998 car was tested in a range of driving conditions using a standard replacement fit Klarius exhaust, designed, manufactured and fully type approved in the UK, against a non-type approved product from another manufacturer, on the urban cycle where the difference was most pronounced, the Astra used 3% more fuel.

Doesn’t sound like much, but over an average 10,000 miles per year usage pattern it equates to the equivalent of £50 per year fuel saving, higher mileage obviously increasing the saving, not only that but the life of the engine is also going to suffer with not having the correct back pressure.

Doug Bentley, R & D Manager at the Klarius factory and test centre in Cheadle arranged the test

“We wanted to understand the financial impact of choosing a non-approved exhaust. We chose an average family car, with an exhaust taken directly off-the-shelf, and subjected the vehicle to the fuel consumption drive cycles tests, just as car manufacturers do. This was done independently at NAC UK’s Emissions Laboratory (Long-bridge). The tests were repeated, with competitors (none type approved) parts for comparison, we then analysed the results. The results showed that in all 3 drive cycle tests conditions, a non-approved part used more fuel. This was just one example, and I am sure it’s not the worst. If you were to select the very worst quality replacement exhaust and happened to find a model where the gap in engineering between ours and the alternative was wider, it is easy to see how purchasing or supplying the wrong exhaust could be costing a driver hundreds of pounds a year in fuel expenditure and maintenance.”